The Diaries of Josiah Chater – 1847

Excerpts from Josiah Chater's Diaries 1847

Excerpts:

1847

7th January – proctors arrest girl but she is rescued

Mr Hayes left us this evening after Tea very Slyly indeed his wife came down by the five Oclock train none of us save Stephen was aware of it her [he?] only told Miss Aikin after breakfast this morning William has written to Father respecting Miss Cohen There was a row in the streets this evening with the Proctors they had taken up some Girl but the Townspeople had rescued her & were hooting the Proctors Mr Hayes is still to dine & Tea with us & came in the morning at Seven Oclock

2nd April – A Boat Trip

The first thing after breakfast Stephen & my brother went to Crop’s the boatwright & hired a boat accordingly we jumped in & off we went in high glee we stopped at the Roebuck Chesterton had a biscuit & a glass of ale after which we were quite strong & reached Ditton Plough after enjoying ourselves on the water for 2 hours we reached home very comfortably ½ past 2 & I get ready for dinner Willaim & I dined at Mr Smarts had a very good dinner after which we had singing & a game at bagatelle until ½ past four I enjoyed myself very much indeed had some pleasant Conversation with Elizy from there we went to Mr Blunshams to tea where we met Mr Adams & went to church with him I forgot to say this is Good Friday.

June 25th – A Visit to Ely and the Fens

At Chatteris up at ¼ before Six & had a most delightful ride through the Fens to Ely passed Sutton Church a very fine Church The Fields do look delightful indeed I never saw such prospects of such abundant crops & everywhere alike we arrived at Ely by nine Oclock to breakfast after which we went to the Cathedral to attend the Service there it is perform’d twice a day the Minister Chanted the Litany & with the Choristers & very nicely he did it but I cannot say I thought there was devotion in it we walked all over the Church or Cath’l after Service Some of the Chapels are Magnificent especially Bishop Alcocks at the North East End The tombs are some of them ancient & in Good repair I wanted to go to the Top but Mr A did not want me to go but in the afternoon I was determined to go & so I did & mightily did I enjoy it there is a splendid view all round for 15 or 16 miles round I could distinguish Kings College Chapel at Cambridge which is 16 miles They are building the Railway Station & it appears to be a very good one They have also very nearly bult a fine new Corn Exchange on the Market Hill which is quite an acquisition to the Town it rained heavily the greater part of the time we were there Started for home at Six in the evening & arrived in Cambridge about ½ past eight after enjoying on my own part a very pleasant ___ trip of two days into the Fen Country but the best part of it was it was given by My Uncle Gratis

July 5th – Visit of the Queen

We closed as did all the shops in the Town at 10 Oclock & the people began to congregate towards the Station to witness the arrival of her Majesty at eleven the Mayor & corporation marched with the Band(s?) of the Sappers & Miners attended by the Whittlesey Yeomanry & the Pensioners the Illustrious personage arrived at one o’clock I had a good opportunity of seeing her on Downing Wall from there I ran the back way to Fitzwilliam St & saw her opposite the Museum I then made my way towards St Marys Church where I had another good view of her & the Prince Consort making a third time during her ride from the Station but I had [a warming?] for it after Tea William & I & G Battell went down the water as far as Ditton in a boat where we had a bottle of Ginger Beer each after which W & I went to see the fireworks which certainly were splendid they were preceded by a fire balloon & followed by a magnificent piece dis Playing [sic] Victoria & Albert in large letters surmounted by a Crown I got into the Senate House in the morning in the afternoon I heard part of the rehearsal of the Concert heard Mo Signor Salvi & Madslle Alboni two beautiful Singers At Swanns Auction room saw Herr Joachim had a good view of Sir Harry Smith

July 6th

Did not get to sleep before One last night rose again at ½ past Six this morning & walked on to the Trumpington Road to meet Father & Eliza they did not arrive till nearly eight we put the Pony & cart in Mr Adams’ coach house & they marched off to the Woolpack to Breakfast the first thing I got them two tickets for St Michaels where they saw the Queen well then we went into the Senate house & for a walk at the backs of the Colleges at two Oclock we went to the Horticultural Fete at Downing & rare noise I had to get my Ticket I never was in such a crowd in all my life but I got one & one for Tom also (he came this morning) we had a good view of her but it was intolerably hot Jno Chater got first prize for Pansies there were about Ten thousand persons present two Bands of Soldiers & beautifully they play’d after that I & William & Eliza & Tom & Annie Cohen took a boat & went on an aquatic excursion as far as the railway bridge on our return we called at the Roebuck Chesterton landed and had some Ginger beer & biscuits which we very much enjoyd laying on the grass & where we had a very good view of the Grand Installation Balloon (Gypsons) it was sent off from Parkers Piece after that we went escorted Father & the rest of them to their place of departure Tramping all almost worn out by the heat & __ I was quite knocked up at about ½ past nine we started Tom off home thus ended the 2nd day of the grand doings

July 7th

We closed the shop again today at 12 + the first thing I did was to get to hear the Rehersal at the Town Hall of part of the Messiah after dinner I saw the Queen go out of the Town attened by her suite she expressed herself highly gratifyed at her sumptuous entertainments  A grand public breakfast was held at Trinity College + at St Johns college a grand Ball the two Colleges were connected by a Temporary wooden Bridge Costing 70 pounds  after she was gone I walked with William to the Station + to see the Fitzwilliam Museum went inside at eight Oclock we went to the Oratorio of the Messiah both _ had a crowded audience + it went off admirably but alarming hot thus all these grand doings are at last ended +  heartly glad I am for I am quite tired of it

August 30th – A Trip to Hastings

At ½ past Eleven Thomas + I started for the Metropolis reached there a little before 3PM when Sarah Johnson met us + took us home in a Cab + gave us a good dinner after which went to her Uncle Williams  an old sailor to tea  he is the very cut of a sailor  after Tea Sarah took us to London Bridge where we took a steamer for Hungerford Suspention Bridge went through Hungerford Market a very nice + commodious place then went on to the Bank Royal Exchange + St Pauls the Mansion House Temple Somerset House + lots of other places to numerous to mention + about nine went home to supper + after that Sarah + I had a little Chat together   she is a dear Girl I like her very much indeed at Eleven we went to bed all in one room together only a curtain parted us + we did lay = laugh nearly all night  she is such a merry one but a very clever girl  she must read a very great deal

Poor Tom has been greatly delighted all this day but I am afraid it will make him suffer a little

August 31st

Got up this morning at ½ past five went after we had our breakfast with Sarah to the Guild Hall & she then went to the Brighton Station with us She is a dear creature we arrived (after changing carriages at Brighton) at Hastings about 12 Oclock after enjoying a most delightful ride we had our dinner “by the bye” Mr Cohen met us  __ [perhaps a correction?] I walked with him & Tom rode (for the Town is two miles from the Station) all along the Sea Shore we knew him by the Signal we were told to look for which was a red H__ in his hand but Tom left his hat in the carriage & after dinner we walked back for it & stroll’d about the Sands for two hours Hastings is a most delightfully situated Town surrounded by cliffs.  After Tea I & Sarah Cohen went to the Chapel of Ease for an hour & heard a very good Sermon the Chapel is a noble place well situated, of a circular form & well built when we came out I was introduced to a friend with whom Sarah & I walked on to the Parade to hear the Band which plays there beautifull [sic] for an hour after 8 Oclock we then came home & retired to rest wrote a letter to William & one to Cook

September 1st

Hastings Rose this morning at seven & went along the Coast to Bathe with out a machine for they charge a shilling a bath & I cannot afford so much the water was very nice but I dare not go far out after breakfast I bought a cap for 2/- & Tom & I went to view the Old Castle a very Old place upon the top of a very high cliff wherefrom [one has?] a commanding view of the Sea from thence we walked onto the sands which at that time of the morning went along [sic] way out & are very pleasant to walk upon being quite hard & no stones In the afternoon we walked through the Hop Grounds (the first I was ever in) to a farmhouse where we had 2 quarts of milk for 3d & sat in the Summerhouse in a very nice garden to drink it, picked nuts as we came home Saw two Schooners launch for Newcastle The sea was very high this afternoon the wind being very boisterous after Tea Mr [Mammon?] a Jew came & sat with us a __ a very clever man but a remarkably funny one he kept us laughing nearly all the time he was with us The [Hous ? sic] we are at is placed half way up a very steep cliff & from every room we can see the Sea

September 2nd

Hastings.  Bathed in the Sea at Seven this morning it was very rough walk on the Sands till Eleven the[n?] lay’d upon East Hill until dinner time after dinner went with Sarah Cohen & a Miss Orsborne(?) to the [Sirens?] Seat a most magnificent place upon a high Cliff commanding a beautiful view of the Sea & so secluded through a deep Glen call’d Fairlight Glen where there are two dripping wells most beautifully surrounded by Trees & underwood from there we went to Fairlight Church it is built upon a very high Hill commanding a view of Rye Harbour & Dover Cliffs from thence to Fairlight Mill (?) where is to be Seen on a fine day the Coast of France but today it was rather Hazy then after drinking some Ginger Beer & [eating?] some cakes we set our faces towards home which we managed to reach by Six Oclock after rambling about for four hours about 10 miles after Tea Miss Orsborne(?) & I had a ride on a Donkey Miss Cohen could not make hers go at all, before I went to bed I wrote a letter to Cousin Sarah, walked on the Beach & heard the Band

September 3rd

I bathed this morning alone the water was very pleasant indeed not quite so cold or windy after breakfast Tom & I took a boat & went for an hour on the Sea it made us both feel rather queer but I think I was the worse of the two for I pulled a little & it exhausted me could not go out after dinner it rain’d pouring all the da afternoon until about Seven so we amused ourselves at a game of Chess & drafts & passed the time as pleasantly as possible at eight we went onto the parade & heard them band play very nicely

September 4th

Got all my things ready for Starting before breakfast did not bathe this morning after B Mr Cohen I & Miss Orsborne(?) went to Hollington Church it is situated in the midst of a wood & no houses anywhere nigh such a pleasant walk we got home a little after Twelve & at four I started for London where I arrived at London Bridge ½ past nine found my way to [Aunts?] alone & then went for Sarah to Ludgate Hill where she was having Supper at a Mr Parry’s a Linen Drapers a Splendid Shop we did not stay long but went home to Supper & went to bed I very much regretted leaving Tom at Hastings

September 5th

Sarah & I went out directly after Breakfast to St Pauls Cathedral had a birds Eye view of the interior it is a magnificent place both inside & out from thence we went to St Dunstans Church & heard Mr Cohen preach a very nice Sermon indeed walked home by Cheapside & D Newgate Street & that way after dinner went for the Housekeeper at Mr Parry’s & then marched off to the Temple Church close to Temple Bar in Fleet St there we had some of the most splendid singing I ever heard in my life chaunting & an Anthem but I could not hear a whole sentence of the Sermon after Tea went to St Margaret Pattens in Rood Lane & heard a very Splendid Sermon from a good old man name [Newberry/Newbury?] it is the Second time of his preaching after his recovery from a severe illness he was truly affecting the poor old man cried as he was preaching after Supper Sarah & I sat over the fire & had a few of her old favourite Tunes over She has a very good ear & a very good voice for Singing

September 6th

(London) Rose this morning about seven the first thing after Breakfast took a parcel through from Hastings to Mr James Cohen in Bouverie St Saw Mrs C quite the Lady & very kind then marched through Covent Garden Market Trafalgar Square The Horse Guards in to St James Park across the Green Park into Hyde Park down constitution Hill under the Duke of Wellington collosal statue saw Buckingham Palace & then marched off to Westminster where I saw some of the most beautiful [painting?] I ever saw in my life [gratis?] from thence we passed on to the Strand & home to dinner after dinner we prepared to start for Shoreditch Station passing down Fenchurch St just to get a glance at the famous [Mercer’s?] establishment it is indeed an enormous pile got to the station just in time 2 Oclock & arrived at Walden about 4 Oclock where father was waiting for me when I got home I had a good Tea & a little chat with them all & a little before Ten Robert drove me to the station Charles went with us & on my arrival at Market Street at ½ past eleven ended my few days recreation gloriously I have enjoyed myself very very much indeed & I don’t regret the money I  spent in the last degree the amount was £2.10.0 I left Tom at Hastings Robert has got a splendid new accordeon

September 10th – Fires at Cottenham and Swaffham

There was a very large fire at Cottenham last night Sixteen houses burnt down & 3 farms at eight Oclock we saw another somewhere over Swaffham way but couldn’t hear where. I had a letter from Sarah saying she received the money safely & would come with Tom I bought a very nice Penholder of Radford silver holder & seal at the top with stone handle for a shilling worth about 5/- or 6/- gathered a good deal of coreopsis seed & _ the Gilia The grapes are beginning to change walked with William over the Railway bridge picked out some very nice poetry from some waste paper had in yesterday

September 17th – Fire at Needingworth

There was a dreadful fire at Needingworth a Village distant about 13 Miles it burnt up Eighty Eight houses & many of them very large farms covering an Area of ground above thirty acres Mr Lilley came home this afternoon & his family in the Evening luckily when he came in (quite unexpectedly) we were all busy Miss Aikins friend Mr Morrison is here staying

December 21st – Some self-reflection

After Breakfast this morning I was determined to ask Miss Aikin if I had offended her & to my utter surprise she told me to ask my own conscience & think after using such insulting language of her how she could be otherwise than offended. by that I know she must have overheard our conversation on Friday night that action certainly was not to her credit & substantiates the old proverb “listeners never hear good of them selves”. but I cannot in the least justify myself I was certainly railing & backbiting “which is a great sin” & therefore when it was told to me again I was self condemned but I really did not do it out of any malice that I had inwardly cherished towards against her I was very angry with one or 2 things which had been done & which I had misconstrued & I could plainly see the devil at the bottom of all at the time I did not see it has an act of railing altho now it is very visible to me but I hope it has taught me a lesson never to think I can withstand the artifices of that wicked Spirit who goeth about like a wairy sin seeking whom he may devour without the aid of the Holy Spirit I readily confess at my guilt which was forgiven freely forgiven & I hope for the future by the blessing of god through prayer to conduct my self in an upright & just manner in order [continued] to redeem my character Miss Aikin certainly did very right in acting as she did & I do not wish in the least to justify myself nor to implicate any one that was with me I know I used language both disgraceful to me “being behind her back” & sinful in the greatest degree before God but for which I am truly sorry & heartily repent

I have written the Bills up to the 150th Page in the Town Book This is the shortest day & it has been so [[strikethrough]] in very deed this Year for we were obliged to light the gas at 20 minutes past two in fact it has not been quite light in the counting house all day

25th December – Christmas Day in Saffron Walden

Christmas Day.  We got up a little after eight I & William went through our customary ablutions Made a jolly good breakfast with Toast & ham then went to Church heard Jonathan sing the Bass solo “from Handels Messiah” Gross darkness &c &c” & then followed the Chorus “For unto us a Child is born &c” & very well indeed it was done but I cannot say I think such music ought to be perform’d by such characters of the description they are as generally perform’d them by especially in a place of public worship for dinner we had two beautiful ribs of Beef roasted with Plum puddings of a superior make, totally different from the general run of plum puddings, In the afternoon we all went into the Yard Eliza & Annie too & had a game at Up for King George & Hand Ball till we got warm & then we went in & talk’d & laugh’d & jok’d till Tea time after which we had some rare fun at two or three different games such as __ Railroad cross questions & crooked answers & lots of others which we kept up with spirit until Suppertime after Supper we employ’d our time in asking riddles &c &c & when the rest were gone to bed & Mr & Mrs Jenkines were gone home  “for they tea’d” with us Eliza & I & William & Annie & Tom sat over the fire & had a good deal of chat for a long time upon a variety of subjects.  We all had ½ a crown each(?) from Uncle Adams as usual

26th December

We breakfasted about nine Father could not get up he has got the Rheumatism in the face & head so very badly he was obliged to go to bed last night some time before supper We heard a very Excellent Sermon in the(?) morning from Mr Clutton(?) & a very sublime one in the Afternoon from Mr Wheeler the Curate They are both very good men indeed but very different in style Mr Clutton is plain simple & spiritual Mr Wheelers style is something more poetical, clever, & very deep both calculated to do a very great deal of good We did not go out in the Evening Fathers face was so bad so I borrowed John Francis’s flute & we sang the evening away & in a very delightful manner which put me in mind of the many many Sunday evenings that are gone but yet are dear to mem’ry still! when we have been all drawn round the fire singing with hearts of song & our poor Mother enjoying the delightful harmonies.  I really have very much enjoy’d this evening never I think one more so we all seem’d so happy Mr & Mrs Jenkines came up to Supper & then we had a nice round party there were seventeen in all After the greater part were dispersed us chosen five as last night closed(?) over the fire & there we sat enjoying a harmonious discussion of the Trials we had endured of the joys we had been blessed with of our present circumstances & the pleasurable anticipations of our future respective lots but the most important affair on the anvil was a project we have in hand respecting Eliza’s future destination W & I have agreed to do something for her & the best thing we can think of is to send her to the Home & Colonial Schools to get further instruction for twelvemonths when she will be fit to take a school & earn something for herself The expenses we expect will be something under Twenty pounds which amount we intend trying to raise for her & if so she will go in about March next & over this project & various other topics we sat cogitating until the fire was completely gone out & the clock told the hour of twelve more than half an hour then we marched off to bed but Tom & I for we slept in o